CI Beginning

Medardo Cadiz, born in the Philippines, studied and worked in the US from 1969 - 1992. He started his professional design career in 1980 after graduating from the University of Michigan . For the next 12 years, Cadiz worked for several outstanding US firms such as James Wong, Skidmore Owings Merrill (SOM), Alden Dow, Mark Beck, Richter Cornbrooks Gribble (RCG), and finally, Design International (DI). It was with the last firm where he was challenged, stayed the longest, explored and experienced the realm of global architecture.

In the 1980's, getting on a jet plane to kick-off projects in Europe or SE Asia was not the norm. The practice of global architecture was not yet popular. With Cadiz US experience and Asian background , coupled with his experience in mixed use and retail planning design, Cadiz landed upon a niche creating mixed use projects overseas where opportunity and demand was vast.

In 1993, with his collective travel and global work experience, Cadiz founded Cadiz International (CI) in Singapore and embarked upon the journey of his life. CI has taken him to five continents, discovering new opportunities and designing projects of every imaginable scale.

CI Partners

In 2001, Cadiz created the CI Philippines office in Manila which has grown to over 50 multi-discipline professionals today, headed by his Filipino partners, Architect Cecile Vega, Architect Nina Quintos and Architect Butch Zamora. At the same time, Cadiz partnered with his brother, Leo Cadiz, to launch the Environmental Graphics Design (EGD) business in Seattle USA . Guided by the five partners and four key directors, the group has now become a design power house with expanded design and master planning services for major developer clients throughout SE Asia, South Asia, China , the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe .

CI Relationships

With the success of the projects in the Middle East, in 2006, CI opened its first Middle Eastoffice in Dubai , United Arab Emirates . With the growth of business in this part of the world, as displayed by Dubai's increasing demand for new developments, Cadiz decided to move to Dubai to better guide the growth and quality of the business while nurturing and enjoying the close relationship with the clients.

CI partners with their clients. This attitude is exemplified by their on-going relationships with the same clients for 28 years now while creating new relationships with the new breed of clients today. . CI looks upon their clients as business partners ; And often as personal friends. This culture has enhanced the experience of working with CI and has contributed so much to the success of the projects and the business growth of the company.

CI Difference

CI is not your everyday conventional traditional design firm. With projects in ten countries today, CI creates the concept design through design development only. The local architect and engineers undertake the working drawings and technical aspects of the work. Together, they deliver a successful product. CI believes that good design equates to good business. This means understanding the aspirations of the client and having full knowledge of the market fundamentals before committing to a design concept. CI does not subscribe to a single design style. This means creating design that is contextual and contemporary which responds well to the culture, the history and character of the place.. CI creates an experience. This means that the design must tell a story about the place and its people. All in all, CI creates design that works.